Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish Church, Pasig City

The Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish Church is located along C. Raymundo Avenue (corner Mercedes Avenue) in Caniogan, Pasig City. It was established in 1994 and is under the jurisdiction of the Vicariate of the Immaculate Conception (Pasig Town Proper). The feast day is August 17 and is under the patronage of St. Claire of Montefalco. The current parish priest is Father Rei Llorca.

I first visited Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish Church in December 2012 and the windows of the church are still not finished. I wonder if it’s already completed today.

St. Claire of Montefalco (Italy) is one of the numerous Roman Catholic saints who are considered incorruptible – bodies that reportedly undergo little or no decomposition, or delayed decomposition. It is also said that a crucifix and a scourge was found inside St. Claire’s heart when her body undergo autopsy in 1308. It’s probably the reason why she is considered the Patroness of those with heart illnesses.

The first time I’ve visited it was December 2012. It was a huge church that is still not complete at that time. The windows that are supposed to be stained glass are still not installed or finished during my visit. Other than that, the church is beautiful. I guess it’s a favourite venue for church weddings. On the basement of the church, there is an ossuary called Santuario del Amor Divino (Sanctuary of Divine Love).

According to Wikipedia, an ossuary is “is a chest, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains. They are frequently used where burial space is scarce. A body is first buried in a temporary grave, then after some years the skeletal remains are removed and placed in an ossuary.”

I can’t wait to take another picture of this church once the rose window and the side windows are completed.

Like most Catholic Churches, a grotto is located in the church’s vicinity.

At first, I thought that this is a columbarium (for ashes) – but reading the church’s website, I learned that this is ossuary (storage for skeletal remains).

The Main Altar of the Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish Church.

I can’t wait to see the stained glass windows to be completed.

The gate to the Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish Church. Sta. Clara (St. Claire) is considered as the Patroness of Heart Patients.

Technorati Tags: Sta. Clara de Montefalco Parish Church,Pasig City,Caniogan,Patroness of Heart Patients

Iron Man 3 Movie Screening by Nuffnang PH and Sun Cellular

I want to thank Nuffnang PH and Sun Cellular for the free tickets to the movie screening of Iron Man 3 at Newport Cinema 2, Resorts World Manila last night. It was another great time at the movies!

Yesterday, I saw that the Newport Cinemas as jam-packed with people. All 4 Cinemas are showing Iron Man 3. Cinema 1 has the Lazy Boy and it costs P520 each ticket. Cinema 2 (where the Nuffnang screening was held) and Cinema 4 charges P270 for 2D while Cinema 3 charges P350 for 3D effects. I really appreciate the advance screening because they've included popcorns, soda and a chance to win a cellphone and loot bags courtesy of Sun Cellular.

Iron Man 3 follows the adventure of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) as he face a new enemy named Mandarin. It also continues the relationship of Tony Stark and his assistant/girlfriend Pepper (Gwyneth Paltrow).

Prior to watching the movie yesterday, I saw its trailer. When I saw that a guy named Mandarin would be his new enemy, I thought that the movie is an adaptation of the animated film about Iron Man versus Mandarin. In the animated film, Mandarin is of Chinese origin and his powers are somehow magical in origin.

In Iron Man 3, although his enemy is also named Mandarin, it's very different from the cartoon character. Mandarin in Iron Man 3 somehow resembles Bin Laden. The movie also has some similarities to actual events on the war against terrorism.

What I like about the movie is that it shows more about Tony Stark without his armor. Unlike the first 2 Iron Man movies wherein it shows his power with the armor, Iron Man 3 shows that he's equally powerful even without his armor. After all, he is Iron Man and his armor doesn't define his capabilities.

What I find odd about the storyline of the movie is the capability of JARVIS (the Artificial Intelligence of his armor or computer system) to control his entire armor set as if Iron Man is inside each and every armor.

Also, Iron Man has the capability to remote control his armor (using a headband). That's something that I haven't read on the comics or seen in the animation movies. I guess I missed that detail (if it was ever on the comics). The ending of the movie is also odd for me because as far as I know, he's dependent on that "battery" on his chest.

Other than those minor details, everything else is okay with the movie. The humor is still there, it has unexpected twists, the battle scenes are awesome, and they even included the story of a boy to the whole picture which really made the movie a "G" movie for the entire family. I highly recommended this movie.

Technorati Tags: Iron Man 3,Nuffnang Philippines,Sun Cellular Postpaid,Resorts World Manila

Free Movie Tickets to Iron Man 3

Thank you Nuffnang PH and Sun Cellular for the free tickets to the screening of Marvel’s Iron Man 3 at Newport Cinema 2, Resorts World Manila. That will be tomorrow, April 26, 2013. I really appreciate the free movie screenings that you’re giving away to bloggers.

See you tomorrow at the movies!

Technorati Tags: Nuffnang Philippines,Sun Cellular Postpaid,Iron Man 3

Church of Binangonan

Last December was my first time to visit the town of Binangonan. Although Pasig City is near the province of Rizal (particularly in the towns of Taytay, Angono and Binangonan) and that I’ve been living in Pasig City since 2001, I only decided to take a pilgrimage to the town’s historical church last December.

The jewel of Binangonan, Rizal – the St. Ursula Parish Church.

I was able to see the Municipal Hall of Binangonan, the Casimiro A. Ynares Sr Memorial Gymnasium and the Church of Binangonan (also known as Sta. Ursula Parish Church). This church is unique because it is dedicated to a not-so-famous saint. In fact, I have to read from Wikipedia who St. Ursula was.

I learned that St. Ursula was a British Christian Saint whose feast is October 21. According to legend, she was a princess who went on sail along with 11,000 virgin handmaids only to suffer death at the hands of the Huns (nomadic people) at Cologne (in modern day Germany) in the year 383.

I searched the Internet on why St. Ursula was chosen as the Patron Saint of Binangonan but I failed to get an answer. I hope someone with historical knowledge would give light on this.

Binangonan was once part of Morong. In 1621 it became an independent Parish and was dedicated to St. Ursula. The present church and convent was built between the years 1792-1800.

The Casimiro A. Ynares Sr Memorial Gymnasium.

The Municipal Hall of Binangonan, Rizal.

The bell tower of the Church of Binangonan a.k.a. St. Ursula Parish Church.

The main altar of St. Ursula Parish Church in Binangonan, Rizal.

I admire the ceiling of the church which is mostly made of wood.

Church of Cainta

The Church of Cainta is known by its formal name of Our Lady of Light Parish. It’s located along A. Bonifacio Avenue in the town center of Cainta and is one of the oldest churches in the province of Rizal (built in 1707).

The architecture of the church’s façade is Baroque.

The history of the church is summarized in the marker near the entrance. The marker on the church reads:

Simbahan ng Cainta

Ipinatayo ni Padre Gaspar Marco S.J. ang simbahang yari sa bato, 1707. Tinapos ni Padre Joaquin Sanchez, S.J., 1716. Inialay sa Patronato ng Nuestra Senora de la Luz, 1727. Naging Simbahang Parokyal, 1760. Nasunog kasama ang larawan ng patron noong digmaang Filipino-Amerikano, 1899. Ipininta ni Fernando Amorsolo ang replica ng larawan ng patron, 1950. Muling ipinatayo ang Simbahan at ipinanumbalik ang orihinal na harapan ni arkitekto Fernando Ocampo, 1966. Pinasinayaan ni Rufino Cardinal Santos, 25 Pebrero 1968.

Here’s my own translation of the words on the marker:

Church of Cainta

Father Gaspar Marco S.J. built the church that is made of stones in 1707. It was completed by Father Joaquin Sanchez S.J. in 1716. The church was dedicated to the Patronage of Our Lady of Light, 1727. It became a Parochial Church in 1760. The church was burned together with the image of the Patron during the Filipino-American War, 1899. The replica of the Patron’s image was painted by Fernando Amorsolo in 1950. The church was rebuilt and restored the façade to the original design by architect Fernando Ocampo in 1966. The church was inaugurated on February 25, 1968.

This McDonald’s branch is adjacent to Our Lady of Light Parish Church.

Our Lady of Light Parish as seen from A. Bonifacio Avenue.

The garden at the church’s courtyard.

The side entrance of Our Lady of Light Parish Church.

This Centennial Building is directly in front of the Church of Cainta.

The marker of the church which gives a summary of the church’s history.

The church’s main altar.

Similar to a lot of Catholic Churches in the country, Our Lady of Light Parish Church also has an image of the Poong Nazareno (Jesus the Nazarene).

Technorati Tags: Church of Cainta,Our Lady of Light Parish,Cainta,Rizal

Sun Cellular, The Good Choice in Postpaid

Great news guys! Sun Cellular brings us two great plans with a gorgeous phone included – Sun Plan 600 and Sun Plan 999. Why are these two plans the great choice in Postpaid? Simple – these two plans are packed with a high-end phone and plans that would suite your needs at an affordable price.

Sounds too good to be true? Check out the features and benefits and decide which would suite your needs:

Sun Plan 600

• Includes Alcatel Idol – the lightest phone from Alcatel at 7.99 mm thick.
• Alcatel Idol has 4.7” touch screen, Wi-Fi hotspot, 8 megapixel camera, expandable memory, dual-core, 3G capable with Android OS version 4.1
• Has 350 Texts to other networks, Sun Call & Texts, and P250 consumable

Sun Plan 999

• Includes Alcatel Idol Ultra – the thinnest Alcatel phone at 6.45 mm.
• Alcatel Idol Ultra has 4.65” touch screen, Wi-Fi hotspot, 8 megapixel camera, dual-core, 3G capable with Android OS version 4.1
• Has Unlimited Mobile Internet
• Unlimited Sun Texts
• 4 hours Sun Calls

Since I’m addicted to Twitter right now and I love to be always online, the best plan for me would be the Sun Plan 999 with its Unlimited Mobile Internet. I haven’t used an Android phone yet but I believe Alcatel Idol Ultra would deliver all the apps that I’ll be needing since version 4.1 is already Jelly Bean.

Sun Plans are definitely The Good Choice in Postpaid.

Technorati Tags: Android 4.1 Jelly Bean,Alcatel Idol,Alcatel Idol Ultra,Sun Cellular Postpaid

Gloria Jean’s Coffees, Ortigas

A few months ago, I visited Gloria Jean’s Coffees in Ortigas Center and I was able to taste some of their pastries. I forgot to blog all about it but like the saying, “better late than never”.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees, according to Wikipedia, is an Australian owned global coffee company. It was founded by Gloria Jean Kvetko in 1979 in Chicago, USA.

Here in the Philippines, Gloria Jean’s Coffees was established in 2003. Today, there are 20 outlets in operation in Metro Manila. The one I visited was their branch in Union Bank Plaza, Ortigas.

Technorati Tags: Gloria Jean's Coffees,Ortigas Center

NZ Politician Maurice Williamson’s Wonderful Speech

I admire the government of New Zealand for passing the gay marriage bill. New Zealand became the 13th country to approve gay marriage. Their Marriage Amendment Bill was passed 77 votes to 44 last April 17, 2013.

The pink equal sign (on a red background) became popular on Facebook as a symbol for gay marriage equality.

It was not a close battle between those who favor the bill and those who are opposed to it. This is a clear indication that they are very open-minded towards equality. I hope before I become a senior citizen, the mentally of Filipinos towards same sex marriage would also change for the better.

Here’s the transcript of New Zealand politician Maurice Williamson’s speech regarding the legalization of gay marriage in their country. I hope the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) and those who worry too much about the effect of gay marriage in the Philippines would read (or listen) this transcript.

Wonderful speech in support of gay marriage

"I've had a reverend in my local electorate say that the 'gay onslaught will start the day this bill is passed.' So we are struggling to know what the gay onslaught will look like. We don't know if it will come down the Pakaranga highway as a series of troops or whether it will be a gas that flows the electorate and blocks us all in.

I also had a Catholic priest tell me that I was supporting an unnatural act. I found that interesting coming from someone who has taken an oath of celibacy for his whole life. Celibacy... I haven't done it so I don't know what it's about.

I also had a leader tell me I would burn in the fires of hell for eternity and that was a bad mistake because I've got a degree in physics. I used the thermodynamic laws of physics. I put in my body weight and my humidity and so on. I assumed the furnace to be at 5000 degrees and I will last for just on 2.1 seconds. It's hardly eternity. What do you think?

I also head some more disgusting claims about adoption. Well, I have got three fantastic adopted kids. I know how good adoption is, and I have found some of the claims just disgraceful. I found some of the bullying tactics really evil. I gave up being scared of bullies when I was at primary school.

However, a huge amount of the opposition was from moderates, from people who were concerned, who were seriously worried, about what this bill might do to the fabric of our society. I respect their concern. I respect their worry. They were worried about what it might do to their families and so on.

Let me repeat to them now that all we are doing with this bill is allowing two people who love each other to have that love recognised by way of marriage. That is all we are doing. We are not declaring nuclear war on a foreign State. We are not bringing a virus in that could wipe out our agricultural sector forever.

We are allowing two people who love each other to have that recognised, and I cannot see what is wrong with that for neither love nor money. I just cannot. I cannot understand why someone would be opposed. I understand why people do not like what it is that others do. That is fine. We are all in that category.

But I give a promise to those people who are opposed to this bill right now. I give you a watertight guaranteed promise.

The sun will still rise tomorrow. Your teenage daughter will still argue back to you as if she knows everything. Your mortgage will not grow. You will not have skin diseases or rashes or toads in your bed. The world will just carry on.

So do not make this into a big deal.

This bill is fantastic for the people it affects, but for the rest of us, life will go on.

Finally, can I say that one of the messages I had was this bill was the cause of our drought. Well, if any one you follow my Twitter account, you will see that in the Pakuranga electorate this morning, it was pouring with rain. We had the most enormous big gay rainbow across my electorate. It has to be a sign. If you are a believer, it is certainly a sign.

Can I finish, for all those who are concerned about this, with a quote from the bible. It is Deuteronomy. I thought Deuteronomy was a cat out of the musical 'Cats,' but never mind. The quote is Deuteronomy 1:29. 'Be ye not afraid.'"

(Transcript taken from International Business Times UK Edition)

Technorati Tags: Gay Marriage,New Zealand,Maurice Williamson

Disappointed With Nuffnang PH's Accounting Department

This is the 47th calendar day since I've received a notification email from Nuffnang PH announcing that my 2nd check is on it's way. The amount is merely P2,000 but I am disappointed on how Nuffnang PH's accounting department is handling the deposit of it.

It's more than a month since the confirmation email and yet, my Nuffnang ATM is still empty. I've already emailed Nuffnang PH's accounting department, particularly Yen, several times regarding this but to no avail. I even created a ticket using their automated Helpdesk tool but still, nothing happened.

Here's the timeline on how long this issue is going on:

2nd Check

• January 14, 2013 -- Request Date at the Nuffnang website
• March 4, 2013 -- Confirmation email: Your Nuffnang cheque is on the way!
• March 5, 2013 -- Accounting asked for banking details
• March 7, 2013 -- Got the Nuffnang ATM and able to enroll it via Online Banking
• March 8, 2013 -- Online Banking got approved
• March 20, 2013 – Yen of Accounting Department replied "It is for signature already sir. It will be deposited within the week or by next week."
• March 27, 2013 -- still no deposit on the bank. I emailed Yen. No reply. 23 days since I received the email confirmation :(
• April 2, 2013 -- I emailed Yen again. No reply.
• April 15, 2013 -- I emailed Yen and accounting.ph@nuffnang.com advising them that I will make a blog post about this issue. Still no reply. 41 days from the confirmation email.
• I also created a ticket on the Nuffnang Helpdesk. I was advised that "We already forwarded your concern to our accounting team. Please expect a reply from them (accounting.ph@nuffnang.com) regarding this situation. Thank you "
• April 21, 2013 -- Still no money in the Nuffnang ATM and still no reply from Nuffnang PH's accounting department. Publishing blog post about this incident. This is the 47th day from the confirmation email.

I hope the current country head of Nuffnang PH, Mr. Abe Olandres, would look into this matter. My first Nuffnang check was deposited in 6 calendar days. I believe there is something terribly wrong with their process right now. To make matters worst, they stopped replying to the emails that I've been sending them and no one is answering on the Nuffnang PH's phone number that appears on their website.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not dropping Nuffnang PH on my blogs. I will continue to be a Nuffnanger. Overall, I’m satisfied with what Nuffnang PH is giving away to bloggers. This is an isolated case and I simply want the accounting department of Nuffnang PH to improve on handling check deposits.

In fairness to Nuffnang PH’s accounting department, my 1st check was handled very efficiently by Ivy:

1st Check

• July 5, 2012 -- Reached the 2k quota
• July 12, 2012 -- Request Date at the Nuffnang Website
• August 14, 2012 -- Confirmation email: Your Nuffnang cheque is on the way!
• August 20, 2012 -- Deposited already in the bank (personal ATM)

Technorati Tags: Nuffnang PH,Accounting Department

Best Food Forward Year 3

Best Food Forward, the annual summer food fair, is back! It’s now on its 3rd year and this will definitely be another wonderful weekend filled with good food. This event will take place on April 20-21, 2013 at the NBC Tent, Bonifacio Global City, from 10:00 AM until 8:00 PM!

This year, I’ll be bringing my brother and his family – my sister-in-law, 2 nephews and 2 nieces – to the event. We all love to eat and enjoy great food so we’ll definitely enjoy this summer food fair. Food trip is definitely a bonding time for us.

This event is for the benefit of Unang Hakbang Foundation. Look at the logos of all the sponsors of this event! Definitely an event worth attending.

Technorati Tags: Best Food Forward Year 3,Nuffnang Philippines,Bonifacio Global City

Vote #28 “Ladlad” for Party-List

The Party-List System, also known as Republic Act No. 7941, “is a mechanism of proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives from national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions”.

The Party-List System aims to “promote proportional representation in the election of representatives to the House of Representatives through a party-list system of registered national, regional and sectoral parties or organizations or coalitions thereof, which will enable Filipino citizens belonging to the marginalized and underrepresented sectors, organizations and parties, and who lack well-defined political constituencies but who could contribute to the formulation and enactment of appropriate legislation that will benefit the nation as a whole, to become members of the House of Representatives”.

One of the numerous groups running for a Party-List slot in the House of Representatives is Ang Ladlad. Ang Ladlad is an organization for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT). The founding chairman of Ang Ladlad is Danton Remoto, a writer, essayist, reporter, editor, columnist, professor, and host of TV 5’s “Remoto Control”.

I first heard of Ang Ladlad through the series of books published by Anvil. I bought Ladlad 3 in 2007 – it’s an anthology of Philippine Gay Writing and was edited by J. Neil C. Garcia and Danton Remoto. Then I heard about Ang Ladlad’s bid as a party-list candidate in the 2007 election but was denied by COMELEC.

In the 2010 elections, it again filed for accreditation but was once again denied by COMELEC. This decision was challenged at the Supreme Court (GR No. 190582, Ang Ladlad LGBT Party v. COMELEC, April 8, 2010).

The Supreme Court granted the petition of Ang Ladlad saying “Ang Ladlad, an organization composed of men and women who identify themselves as lesbians, gays, bisexuals, or trans-gendered individuals (LGBTs), has satisfied the exacting standards that the “marginalized and underrepresented sector must demonstrate (1) past subordination or discrimination suffered by the group; (2) an immutable or distinguishing characteristic, attribute, or experience that define them as a discrete group; and (3) present political and/or economic powerlessness.”

In January 2012, “Ang Ladlad” changed their name to “Ladlad” (dropping the “Ang”). No other than King of Talk and Ladlad Partylist Senior Political Adviser, Mr. Boy Abunda announced it saying “Simula ngayon Ladlad Partylist na ang tawag ninyo sa aming grupo.” (From now on, call our group Ladlad Partylist)

Today, Ladlad Party-List is the only party-list group for lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBT) in the world. The LGBT community is also recognized by the Supreme Court as a legitimate marginalized and underrepresented sector. Thus, there is really a need to represent the LGBT community in Congress.

Daniel Radcliffe (best known for his role as Harry Potter) is a supporter of gay rights. He’s a member of The Trevor Project, an American non-profit organization focused on suicide prevention among youth and members of the LGBT community.

As a member of the gay community, we’re not asking for special rights for being gay. We just wanted equal rights and protection under the law. We firmly believe in the following phrase found in the US Declaration of Independence of 1776:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable Rights that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

If you’re a voter and a believer of this phrase, then give us voice in Congress in the coming election. You don’t need to be gay or lesbian to vote for Ladlad Party-List. You just need to believe in the concept of equality.

Technorati Tags: Ang Ladlad,Ladlad Party-List,Danton Remoto

Dinner at Isdaan, Calauan, Laguna

After we attended the Pailah Festival in Pila, Laguna last March 22, we had dinner at Isdaan in Calauan, Laguna. I guess the owner of this restaurant is the same one who owns the Isdaan in Gerona, Tarlac.

Which comes first? Isdaan Calauan or Isdaan Gerona?

The place is cozy and really gives the atmosphere of a dining place – especially for those who are really hungry. Our group was composed of 13 photographers and we had Pancit Bukid, Kare-Kare, and Sinampalukang Manok. It only cost us P200 each and we were full. Not to mention that we’re all guys and came from a tiring day covering the Pailah Festival. The foods are delicious!

Aside from the delicious food, Isdaan is also a small theme park. It has a Balinese (or Javanese?) design to the place with all these statues of mermaids. It also has statues of popular characters from Disney and the Angry Birds for kids to enjoy. It also has facilities for a boat ride (similar to Manila Zoo).

One of the features of Isdaan is the Tacsiyapo wall wherein you could buy plates that you could smash to the wall to release your anger towards a person or situation. I first heard about this on Rated K a few years ago and it amazes me that there are a lot of broken plates already. I guess this anger management idea is a hit.

If you would pass by the National Road in Calauan, Laguna, on the way to Pila or Sta. Cruz, you might want to drop by at Isdaan. It’s a restaurant worth visiting.

I wasn’t expecting a mime artist here.

I adore this lamp!

Javanese? Balinese?

These birds are so famous.

Birds from Rio?

Smash all the plates you can at Tacsiyapo!

How many branches of Isdaan are here in the country? So far I’ve only seen the one in Gerona, Tarlac and this one at Calauan, Laguna.

Isdaan – a cozy restaurant for dinner with friends.

Wow! Cory and Erap under one roof.

Technorati Tags: Isdaan,Calauan,Laguna,Gerona,Tarlac